“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:11
I remember being in college and working at a dry cleaners. The owners of the cleaners were a very nice married couple and they would come by often to chat with me about various topics, from school to politics to religion. One day the wife asked me if I had joy. I said “Sure. I love my life. I am doing pretty good in school. I have a healthy son. My family is very supportive.” But she asked if I had true joy. She then explained to me that the only way to have true joy was to live out the letters in order of importance. She said that JOY meant to love/serve Jesus, Others, and Yourself. And that stuck with me til this day.
In this passage in John, Jesus talks to his disciples about joy and how your joy can be full and complete. Jesus says that the disciples are His friends whom he laid down His life for. They would remain that as long as they kept His commandments. In several places we are commanded to love God with all of our heart and to love one another. We should always strive to meet the needs of others, and esteem others above ourselves. Then we can experience the friendship of God. Then we can have fullness of JOY.